The U.S. House of Representatives on June 15 voted to protect intellectual privacy by limiting FBI access to library lending records. Voting 238 to 187 for the Freedom to Read Amendment, legislators—including many Republicans—sent a message that the USA Patriot Act, which allows what some regard as invasive access to citizens' private reading habits, may have gone too far and must be curtailed.

Noting the "chilling effect" that Patriot Act measures have had on patrons interested in borrowing controversial material from libraries, many college and university librarians have become key players on this issue, recalling the days of McCarthyism and accusations against individuals who borrowed books about communism. Patty Bentley, chapter president of United University Professions/AFT and a board member of the New York State United Teachers, is one. A reference instruction librarian at the State University of New York-Plattsburgh, she was instrumental in organizing the "We the People" campaign through the unions of NYSUT, UUP, the Professional Staff Congress/AFT (at the City University of New York) and the state community colleges. For a week in spring 2004, the campaign had schools and colleges all over the state hosting panel discussions and displays about protecting the First Amendment and privacy rights, and questioning the Patriot Act. "I'm very proud of my profession," says Bentley. "They've really been in the forefront of providing information and organizing the resistance."

In fact, the amendment's sponsor, U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders (Ind.-Vt.), was in part prompted by a letter from Vermont librarians, initiated by United Academics/AAUP/AFT member Trina Magi, a reference librarian at the University of Vermont. "Most people have the idea that a librarian is this quiet little person who works in the stacks, but in fact we're pretty ferocious when it comes to freedom of information," says Bentley.

The AFT is a longtime player in the movement to guard against Patriot Act violations of civil liberties, and passed a resolution at the 2004 AFT convention to protest the invasion of privacy wrought by broad federal access to personal records. "The notion that librarians and hospital employees are being directed to turn over data that compromises the integrity of their relationship with ordinary clients is anathema to a free and open society," states the resolution.

The AFT continues to monitor the Patriot Act, attending hearings and circulating the resolution. While the recent House victory is telling, the Senate vote remains and President Bush has threatened to veto any measure that would weaken the Patriot Act. [Virginia Kelly]

June 17, 2005